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1. Jews have been a significant part of the development of our State since 1763, which is the first year that Jews were allowed to live (as Jews) in Florida. Since Florida was owned by Spain from 1513, it was “for Catholics only” for 250 years. The first Jews settled in Pensacola after the Treaty of Paris was signed that turned Florida over from Spain to England. 2. Today, 16% of the American Jewish community lives in Florida. Our State hosts the nation's third largest Jewish community (after NY and CA) with at least 850,000. South Florida has the second largest concentration of Jews in the world, after Israel, at 15%. 3. A Jew, David Levy Yulee, is known as the “architect” of Florida Statehood. As a territorial delegate in 1841, he went to the U.S. Congress to argue for statehood. In 1845 when Florida became the 27th state, Florida's first Senator to serve in Washington was David Levy Yulee. Yulee, the first Jew to serve in the U.S. Congress, also developed Florida’s first cross-state railroad. Levy County and the town of Yulee in Nassau County honor him. 4. David Levy Yulee’s father, Moses Levy, had come into Florida by 1820 and began purchasing 100,000 acres in north central Florida where, on 1,000 acres, he started a Jewish colony in Micanopy; he was a founder of that city. Twenty-three years before statehood, in 1822, Moses Levy established Pilgrimage Plantation that attracted Jews fleeing persecution in Europe and he brought sugar cane and fruit trees. The Plantation was burned down at the onset of the Second Seminole War in 1835. An Orthodox Jew, Moses Levy was among the earliest and largest developers in Florida, published a plan to abolish slavery and was a proponent of free education in Florida as a charter member of the Florida Education Society. 5. More than 100 Jewish families have been identified who have lived in Florida over 100 years. The Dzialynski family came to Jacksonville by 1850; is still there--still Jewish. There were six Jewish congregations in Florida before the turn of the 20th century. Today there are more than 300 congregations who are involved with improving the quality of life for all people in the State. 6. Floridian Jews have served on local, county, state and federal levels as politicians and in many public capacities. Richard Stone served as Florida’s Secretary of State then U.S. Senator (1974-80); David Sholtz was Governor (1933-37). In 1990, State Senator Gwen Margolis became the nation’s first woman State Senate president. More than 250 Floridian Jews have served as judges and more than 150 Jews have served as mayors. 7. Jews have served in Florida in all the wars. Fort Myers is named for Col. Abraham Myers, a Jewish West Point graduate who was the quartermaster for the fort in the Indian wars during the mid-1800s. Jacksonville’s Admiral Ellis Zacharias, Chief of Naval Intelligence during WWII, helped break the Japanese code in 1941 that resulted in the U.S. victory in the Pacific. 8. The contributions made by Jews to the development of Florida are in every sector. A Jew was a founder of the Florida Cattlemen's Association (Saul Snyder of St. Augustine); Jews have been prominent in the citrus, tomato and tobacco industries. An Orlando Jew and a graduate of the University of Florida in 1948 received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1968 for breaking the genetic code (Marshall Warren Nirenberg). Jews have been active in the development and construction industries including creating cities (Cape Coral, San Carlos Park, Bay Harbor Islands and Seaside) and highways, in banking and insurance, the arts, education, military and science, agriculture, space industry, the professions and much more. 9. For nearly 250 years, Jews have lived in Florida and maintained traditions of their heritage. Jews represent one immigrant group in our multiculturally diverse state. 10. The Jewish Museum of Florida, opened in 1995, is located on South Beach in two adjacent former synagogues, on the National Register of Historic Places, that were lovingly restored by the Museum. The mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the Jewish experience in Florida. Thousands of students, as well as adults who are both residents and tourists, visit the art and history exhibits and learn how diverse individuals – who are more alike than different - come together to preserve our cultural heritage and enhance the quality of life for all Floridians. http://www.jewishmuseum.com/FJHMFactSheet09.html
1763 England acquires Florida. It divides the territory into two colonies: East and West Florida. Joseph D. Palacios, Alexander Solomons and Samuel Israel were the first Jews to settle in Florida in Pensacola in 1763. 1820 Moses Elias Levy begins purchase of 100,000 acres in what is now St. Johns, Volusia and Alachua Counties. In 1822 he builds “Pilgrimage Plantation,” a refuge for Jews that lasted until 1835. He publishes a plan to end slavery and serves as Florida’s first Education Commissioner. 1821 Samuel Myers settles in Pensacola, becomes alderman and an officer in the military. In 1822, he and his wife, Louisa, have Virginia, the first-known Jewish child born in Florida. 1836 Abraham C. Myers, a West Point graduate, serves as Army Quartermaster for the Seminole Indian Wars, 1835-1842. Ft. Myers is named to honor him. 1837 Raphael Jacob Moses opens a store in Tallahassee. He later becomes a lawyer and practices in Apalachicola. 1841 David Levy Yulee, the son of Moses Elias Levy, helps to write Florida’s Constitution (1841). He is elected the first U.S. Senator from Florida (1845) and is the first Jew to serve in the U.S. Senate (1845-1851; 1855-1861). He organizes the Florida Railroad Company (1853). The town of Yulee (Nassau County) and Levy County, honor the family. 1850 Phillip P. Dzialynski arrives in Jacksonville. This is the longest-continuing Jewish family in Florida. 1857 The first Jewish cemetery in Florida is established in Jacksonville. The first-known Jewish boy is born in Florida, George Dzialynski. 1865 Judah P. Benjamin from Louisiana serves as Attorney General, Secretary of State and Secretary of War for the Confederacy (1861-1865). At the end of the Civil War, he escapes from the Union Army by hiding in the Gamble mansion (Manatee County). 1878 Temple Beth El (Pensacola), the oldest congregation in the State, is founded. 1879 Henry Brash elected Mayor of Marianna, the first-known of more than 150 Jewish mayors in Florida. 1880s Cousins Morris Dzialynski of Jacksonville and Herman Glogowski of Tampa serve as mayors of their cities. 1882 The Okeechobee Land and Development Company adopts a plan to save Jews in Russia. The Company starts an agricultural colony above the Everglades. 1890 Dr. Louis Oppenheimer of Bartow establishes the local school system. 1895 Key West Jews raise funds for Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence from Spain. 1896 The first permanent Jewish settlers arrive in the Miami area. 1933 David Sholtz begins his term as Governor of Florida (1933-1936). 1940s Admiral Ellis N. Zacharias of Jacksonville, Chief of Naval Intelligence, breaks the Japanese code. This leads to the U.S. victory in the Pacific. 1943 Mitchell Wolfson serves as Mayor of Miami Beach, the first of 15 Jewish mayors in that city. 1953 Abe Aronovitz serves as Mayor of Miami, the only Jew to serve in this office. 1968 Marshall Warren Nirenberg of Orlando receives the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for deciphering the genetic code. 1974 Richard Stone begins his term as a U.S. Senator (1974-1980), the second Florida Jew to hold this office. 1975 Arthur England begins his term as Justice on Florida’s Supreme Court (1975-1981). He becomes Chief Justice in 1978. 1981 Raymond Ehrlich begins his term on Florida’s Supreme Court (1981-1991). He becomes Chief Justice in 1988. More than 250 Jews have served as judges in Florida. 1987 Gerald Kogan begins his term as Justice on Florida’s Supreme Court (1987-1998). He becomes Chief Justice in 1996. 1990 MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida,” a traveling exhibit, begins its tour to 13 cities. Gwen Margolis becomes the first female Florida Senate President. 1995 Jewish Museum of Florida opens. 1997 Barbara Pariente becomes the second woman appointed to the Florida Supreme Court. In 2004, she becomes Chief Justice. 2003 Governor Jeb Bush signs a Bill designating each January as Florida Jewish History Month. 2004 Debbie Wasserman Schultz elected to U.S. Congress, the first Jewish woman to represent Florida. 2006 President George Bush signs a Proclamation designating each May as Jewish American Heritage Month to honor contributions by Jewish Americans to our Nation. The Jewish Museum of Florida was the birthplace of this legislation, with the effort led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. http://www.jewishmuseum.com/FJHM2009Curriculum.html
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